Hen or Roo? (About 17 weeks)

[CluckyandPeepsFlock]

The behavior doesn’t really mean anything tbh. My Orp boys were very timid and skittish too and they were definitely, 100% males. In fact, my main one constantly got beat up by the girls until like almost a year old. He started crowing at 7 months but they still beat him up until he found his confidence. So males can act that way too.

I am just going based on my own experience with all of the cockerels I have raised.

I have not raised a Buff Orpington cockerel, so I do not have personal experience with their behavior particularly.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I am just going based on my own experience with all of the cockerels I have raised.

I have not raised a Buff Orpington cockerel, so I do not have personal experience with their behavior particularly.

Yeah that makes sense. I was going off my experience too hah didn’t mean to come off rude or anything.

I just think Orpingtons are different and more timid than other breeds. My Andalusian cockerel was mating and crowing etc. at 4 months (actually I think he started crowing sooner) and the eggs were fertile and they were definitely his or his brothers cause I had no mature roosters and all the chicks were the same age.

 

[CluckyandPeepsFlock]

Yeah that makes sense. I was going off my experience too hah didn’t mean to come off rude or anything.

I just think Orpingtons are different and more timid than other breeds. My Andalusian cockerel was mating and crowing etc. at 4 months (actually I think he started crowing sooner) and the eggs were fertile and they were definitely his or his brothers cause I had no mature roosters and all the chicks were the same age.

Haha sounds like he was ready to get busy ASAP!

It's so interesting witnessing the differences between chicken breeds maturing.
I had a leghorn cockerel start growing a huge comb and wattles AND crowing at only 10 weeks old! (I had to rehome him due to not needing/wanting a leghorn rooster).

Meanwhile my 4 month old plymouth rock roo just started crowing. He is a sweet boy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Haha sounds like he was ready to get busy ASAP!

It's so interesting witnessing the differences between chicken breeds maturing.
I had a leghorn cockerel start growing a huge comb and wattles AND crowing at only 10 weeks old! (I had to rehome him due to not needing/wanting a leghorn rooster).

Meanwhile my 4 month old plymouth rock roo just started crowing. He is a sweet boy.

He definitely was! And he loved hearing himself talk too!

But yeah, it really is quite interesting!!

 

[CoopBoots]

Going back over pictures of my hatchery Buff Orpington girls at around 17 weeks, give or take a couple days (ignore my Niederrheiner rooster hamming it up in the middle):

Compare with this 14 week Buff Orpington x Leghorn cockerel who favors the Buff Orpington side with slower development and meeker demeanor:

Just for reference; I realize the comparison isn't perfect. But I really do think it's a cockerel.

 

[Sussex19]

Slow developing cockerel is my best guess.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Male or female, name him/her Bigfoot. This bird tickles me and I can't wait to hear if it crows.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Cockerel.